O'Malley: New West Roxbury Athletic Fields Coming Soon

Written by District 6 Boston City Councilor Matt O'Malley

The City Council voted unanimously to authorize the City's FY2014 budget. Statutorily, it’s the most important role that the Council plays, and I was proud to cast an affirmative vote for several reasons.

First off, Mayor Menino and his team deserve tremendous credit for putting forth a sound budget that invests in every neighborhood. Furthermore, the operating budget reflects the areas that I have been focused on during my 2 ½ years in office. 

The $2.6B operating budget strengthens quality and allows for growth of enrollment of the Boston Public Schools, funds new public safety recruit classes, enables us to address climate change and increased recycling rates, and will facilitate new and increased housing stock.

The $1.8B five-year capital plan will fund significant capital improvements throughout the city, and I am especially excited about several projects planned for my district.

The Jamaica Plain Branch Library will receive a $8.5M renovation and upgrade. This is a project that I have been working on since my first day in office. Over breakfast at Sorella’s in Hyde Square last spring, I convened a meeting between Mayor Menino, his team, the Friends of the Library board and other stakeholders where we talked about the need and necessity to upgrade the City’s oldest branch library. I am enormously grateful and proud that we will soon have a dazzling renovated branch on Sedgwick Street.

The West Roxbury Educational Complex Field will receive a $6.5M renovation and upgrade. This is a project that I have been advocating for along with my at-large colleague John Connolly. Upon completion, the campus of the Educational Complex will boast a new synthetic football field, turf baseball and softball fields, tennis courts, and an athletic track. With its neighboring Millennium Park, the VFW Parkway at Gardner Street will soon be the preeminent destination for budding athletes of all ages.

There are several other successes in this year’s budget, including an allocation of $335,000 for a new playground at the Beethoven School (which was brought to my attention by a number of parents) and $125,000 for rehabilitating the dock at Jamaica Pond (a popular destination for those that live in the neighborhood and beyond).

I’m tremendously grateful to the Mayor and his team for their work and diligence during the lengthy budgetary review period. I also am thankful to the number of constituents who reached out to me with ideas, suggestions, and questions. I take my role as a councilor very seriously and believe that this is a budget that is exceptionally fair and responsible. This budget will ensure that the greatest city in the world continues to thrive.